Cementing packer assembly



Aug. 14, 1951 c WARE CEMENTING PACKER ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 26, 1948 Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,564,240 I cEMEN'rinG i-AoKiiiz. regimen? Cecil ware, Houston, Tex.- Aii liicafith November 26, lenses-a1 'No. 62,1132

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a cementing packer "assembly. I I I I I I The assembly herein described has been specially designed for use in cementing wells.

I It is an object of the invention to provide an assembly of the character described which includes an expansible packer or seal and which is so constructed that it may be lowered into a well casing without liability of expanding said packer and with the parts of the assembly rigidly connected together and is also so constructed that when located at the selected point in the well the assembly may be manipulated to xpand the packer and form a seal with the surrounding casing. I I I I I The assembly is tubular so that cementitious material may be forced down through the operatingstrin'g and through the packer assembly beneath the seal and allowed to set and the packer assembly then withdrawn.

The assembly is of such construction that if the packer proper should become stuck in the well so that it cannot be removed a major portion of the assembly may be detached and removed from the well bore and that portion that cannot be removed may be then drilled out.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein'- Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view of the assembly with the parts secured in-position for lowering the assembly into the well.

Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section, showing thepacker set. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, andv Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numerals l and 2 designate the upper and lower sections of the mandrel. These sections may be connected by a threaded joint, as 2a.

Threaded onto the lower end of this mandrel, by means of left hand threads 3 there is a tubula'r-pack'er support 4 and threaded onto the lower end of the packer support there is "a couplingrfi.

Around, and spaced from, the mandrel there tubular housing member 6 and threaded into J the lower end of this housing member, by -left hand threads 1, there is a slip retainer -ring8.

"The housin member 6 has an insideannular flange 9 through which the mandrel section fits and this section is enlarged above "said 2 flange, iiteinally, fo'rmingan external annular shoulder l0 'wh'ich limits the downward movement of the mandrel relative to said housing member and ring. The flange 9 is also posirea urer "engagement by the lower section '2, which may be provided with a serrated upper end portion '33, for contact with the lower surface of; the flange. I I

The housing member '6 has a plurality of exte'rna'l sockets 1 tin which casing grip members I2 are seated. These grip members are seated "an yieldable seats 13, such as coil springs. However, the "outward movement of the grip memhers is limited by means or upper and lower r'etainers it, M which are secured to the housing 6 and interengage with the upper and lower ends 'ofthegrip member's l2, as indicated in Fi ure 1. These grip members I2 may have-external teeth to grip the well easing It to prevent turning jfimvement of the housing and ring when the mandrel is rotated.

I Mounted in the ring -8 and radially movable therein there are the slips it which are arcuate in horizontal cross-section, as shown in Figure -5, and which have external upwardly pitched teeth. These slips may move radially but are ill hereinaif ter explained.

'45 nie'm-be'r reamer-ring 8, grip member prevented from detachment from the ring by means or upper pins ll fastened to "the ring which work in radial slots [8 in the upper ends "of the slips and by the heads of screws l9 which are screwe'd'into the ring and with which the lower *ends' of 'said slips engage upon outward moyemen't'of the slips, asillus'trated in Figure 2.

Within-theretaine'r ring "8 there is -a sleeve :26 which 'fits closely around the lower section 2 of the mandrel. Ihe upper end of this sleeve-has the annular upwardly and inwardly tapering races 2!, Hand the slips if; have correspondinglytapering faces-2 a, 2-2 11, which work against the cor espon'ding faces 21 and 22 so to cause the to expand and engage the well casing [5, as shown in Figure 2, when the mandrel is forced upwardly relative to said sleeve as The above described l6, anas eev zu comprise the principal parts the slip assembly or the invention.

en the coupling 5 and the sleeve -21} there is an e p nsime packer 23 formed of {suitte esi aiisible material such as rubber.

ficrewed -iht'o the upper endof the housing This bushing housing 6 is provided with an inside annular shoulder 26 forming a slip support. Within the slip seat 25 there is a sectional slip nut which is formed of arcuate sections, as 27, whose outer sides are tapered to conform to the taper of the seat 25 and whose inner sides are formed with downwardly and inwardly tapering mutilated threads 28 which intermesh with corresponding upwardly and outwardly tapered threads 29 and when the device is assembled for lowering into the well the threads 23, 29 intermesh with the slip nut sections 21 seated against the seat 25. The threads 28, 29 are left hand threads.

The assembly may be provided with a protecting sleeve 38 which is fitted closely around the upper end of the upper section of the mandrel and sealed therewith by the seal ring 3|. The lower end of this sleeve 30 is screwed into the upper end of the bushing 24 and this sleeve protects the interior of the assembly against the entrance of sand and other similar detritus.

When the device is to be lowered into a well it is assembled as shown in Figure 1. When so assembled the parts are held against relative movement with the shoulder l resting against the inside flange 9 to hold the mandrel against downward movement and with the sections 27 against the seat 25 to hold the mandrel against upward movement, relative to the other parts of the assembly; also the external annular shoulder 2b, Figure 2, on the lower section 2 of the mandrel will engage the upper end of the sleeve 20 to maintain said sleeve against upward movement. In lowering the assembly into the well casing I5 the slips l6 will be held in their inner position out of contact with the casing but the grip members [2 will move downwardly in contact with the casing. When a point has been reached at which it is desired to set the packer the operating string 32, which is connected to the upper end of the mandrel, may be rotated to the right thus rotating the mandrel and since the threads 28, 29 are left hand threads the slip nut 21 will be moved downwardly to the position indicated in Figure 2 landing on and being supported by the shoulder 26 thus freeing the mandrel from the slip nut 2'1. However, the housing 5, and ring 8 will be held against rotation by means of the grip members l2.

Thereupon the operating strip 32 and the mandrel may be elevated with respect to the remainder of the structure and the tapering faces 2|, 22 of the sleeve 2|] will operate against the tapering faces 2la, 22a of the slips It thus moving said slips outwardly into secure engagement with the casing I5 so as to anchor the sleeve 29 and the packer against further upward movement and upon further upward movement of the operating string and mandrel the coupling 5 will operate against the lower end of the packer 23 causing expansion of said packer into contact with the well casing 15, as shown in Figure 2.

The packer assembly may be maintained in this last named position while the well is being cemented. Plastic cement will be forced down through the operating string 32 and through the packer assembly into the well beneath the packer and the packer will prevent the plastic cement from escaping upwardly between the packer assembly and the well casing.

This well cementing operation is in common practice and well known to those familiar with the art of well drilling and will not be further explained in detail herein.

At the proper time the packer assembly removed from the well. This is accomplished by the lowering of the operating string 32. The pressure on the packer 23 will thus be relieved and said packer will contract. Upon further downward movement of the mandrel the shoulder 21) will come into contact with the upper end of the sleeve 20 moving said sleeve downwardly and relieving the outward pressure on the slips 16 allowing said slips to contract and release the casing. Upon further downward movement of the mandrel the threads 29 will ratchet past the threads 28 of the slip nut 21 and interengage therewith to maintain the entire assembly in released, or original, position as shown in Figure 1.

Upon subsequent upward movement of the operating string 32 the slip nut 21 will engage the face 25 of the bushing 26 so that the entire assembly will be again interlocked and may be removed from the well.

However, should the packer become stuck in the well so that it cannot be removed by a normal operation the operating string and mandrel may be turned to the right and this will operate to disconnect the left hand threads 3 and the mandrel may then be elevated. Upon elevation of the mandrel the upper end of the lower section 2 will come into contact with the flange B and by upward movement the housing 3 and ring 8 may be moved, or jarred, upwardly so as to effectively release the slips Hi from the expanding faces 2!, 22 and the entire assembly may be withdrawn. If this operation is not effective a continued rotation of the operating string under tension with the upper serrated end 33 of the section 2 in frictional contact with the flange 9 will effect the unscrewing of the left hand threads 7 so that the operating string 32, the mandrel and the housing 6 may be withdrawn from the well.

The retainer ring 8 and slips l6 therein together with the sleeve 28, the packer 23 and the coupling 5 are all formed of material which may be readily drilled in case the packer assembly cannot be removed as a unit.

The packer assembly described is also equally useful in acidizing wells or performing other similar well operations.

What I claim is:

1. A packer assembly for wells comprising, a tubular mandrel, a slip assembly around the mandrel, said slip assembly including a housing around the mandrel, yieldably mounted casing grip members on the housing, a slip retainer ring around the mandrel below the housing and radially movable casing engaging slips on the retainer ring, and a sleeve on the mandrel having means thereon to expand the slips into en- 60 gagement with the well casing upon upward movement of the sleeve relative to the slip assembly, a sleeve-like expansible packer beneath the sleeve, means connected with the mandrel and engageable against said packer to expand the packer upon upward movement of the mandrel relative to the slip assembly, connecting means including an internally threaded slip nut carried by the housing, said mandrel having external threads engageable with the internal threads of the slip nut to connect the mandrel with the slip assembly to normally prevent such relative movement, said connecting means being releasable upon rotation of the mandrel relative to the slip assembly to allow such upward movement, said connecting means beingre-engageable, to

prevent such relative movement upon subsequent downward movement of the mandrel relative to the slip assembly.

2. A packer assembly for wells comprising, a tubular mandrel, a housing around the mandrel, yieldably mounted casing grip members on the upper housing, a slip retainer ring around the mandrel and connected to the housing, radially movable casing engaging slips on the ring, a sleeve on the mandrel having means thereon to exp-and the slips into engagement with the well casing on upward movement of the sleeve relative to the slip assembly, a sleeve-like expansible packer beneath the sleeve, means connected with the mandrel and engageable against said packer to expand the packer and move the sleeve upwardly upon upward movement of the mandrel relative to the slip assembly, connecting means including a slip nut carried by the housing and having internal ratchet threads, said mandrel having external ratchet threads engageable with said internal threads to connect the mandrel with the housing to normally prevent such relative movement, said connecting means being releasable upon rotation of the mandrel relative to the slip assembly to allow such upward movement, said connecting means being re-engageable to prevent such relative movement upon subsequent downward movement of the mandrel relative to the slip assembly.

3. A packer assembly for wells comprising, a tubular mandrel, a packer support connected to the mandrel by threads, an expansible packer on the support, a sleeve on the packer around the mandrel, a housing and a slip retainer ring, connected by threads, around the mandrel, radially movable slips on the retainer ring, means on the sleeve adapted to move the slips outwardly upon relative upward movement of the sleeve, yieldably mounted grip members on the housing, means connecting the mandrel to the cage assembly and releasable upon rotation of the mandrel relative to said assembly to allow the mandrel to move upwardly to expand the packer and to move the sleeve upwardly and the slips outwardly, means on the mandrel and housing which are engageable, upon release of the mandrel from the packer support and elevation of the mandrel, to cause the housing to rotate with the mandrel to effect separation of said housing and said retainer ring.

4. A packer assembly for wells comprising a tubular mandrel, a housing aroundthe mandrel, means on the housing engageable by the mandrel to limit downward movement of the mandrel in the housing, yieldably mounted casing grip members on the housing, a slip retainer ring around the mandrel and threadably connected to the housing, radially movable casing engaging slips on the retainer ring, a sleeve on the mandrel having means thereon to expand the slips into engagement with the well casing on upward movement of the sleeve relative to the ring, a packer support connected to the mandrel by threads, an expansible packer on the support, means connected with the mandrel and engageable against the packer to expand the packer and move the sleeve upwardly upon upward movement of the mandrel relative to the housing, means connecting the mandrel with the h0us ing to normally prevent such relative movement, said connecting means being releasable upon rotation of the mandrel relative to the housing to allow such upward movement, said connecting means being re-engageable to prevent such relative movement upon subsequent downward movement of the mandrel relative to the housing, and means on the mandrel engageable with the housing upon release of the mandrel from the packer support and elevation of the mandrel, to cause the housing to rotate with the mandrel to efiect separation of the housing and the ring.

CECIL WARE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,173,351 Bradshaw Sept. 19, 1939 2,270,647 Church Jan. 20, 1942 2,338,370 Wilson Jan. 4, 1944 2,368,399 Baker Jan. 30, 1945 2,368,401 Baker Jan. 30, 1945 

